USPS rules force Santa’s helper into retirement | PostalReporter.com
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USPS rules force Santa’s helper into retirement

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Jackie DeHart reads one of hundreds of Santa Claus letters she has received through the years.

Jackie DeHart still believes in Santa and for more than 24 years she’s worked as Santa’s helper, answering all the letters addressed to Old St. Nick that Santa himself couldn’t get to with his busy schedule.

That all ended last week when she received a phone call from the Green Valley Post Office informing her that letters addressed to Santa Claus would no longer be delivered to her mailbox. It was the end of a nine-year tradition.

“It’s all about the security and protection of the children and that’s a priority,” says Postal Service spokesman Robert Soler, adding that the USPS has its own Letters to Santa program.

Hundreds of thousands of children send letters to “Santa Claus, North Pole” every year, according to the USPS. Postal “elves” go through the letters and separate those that demonstrate serious need.

DeHart, who just celebrated her 87th birthday, understands the security issue but still feels “a great loss.”

The Postal Service has a policy for “adopting” children’s letters addressed to Santa designed to protect their privacy. Individuals who would like to adopt letters may do so in person, present valid photo identification and fill out a form that includes the list of letters they are adopting. After the individual fulfills the child’s wishes with a gift, he or she returns with the letter and gift to the same Post Office and pays the postage for the package. A postal employee will match the number on the letter with the child’s address, apply a label to it for mailing without the customer seeing the child’s address.

via Post Office rules force Santa’s helper into retirement – Green Valley News: Local News.

Related Link: Letters to Santa Program